Tag: International Developments

  • Some Lessons from Bear Stearns

    The New York Times DealProfessor has a column Burying Bear Stearns that highlights the takeaways from the Bear Stearns saga, which incidentally are matters we often endeavour to stress on this blog. They are: – Moral hazard– Systemic risk– Corporate governance

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  • Training Directors

    I had earlier posted about the Chartered Director test prescribed by the Institute of Directors in London, which is a qualifying examination for directors on corporate boards. In response, one our readers from Australia, Susie Reece Jones, has been kind enough to provide us with some details about the situation in Australia in this regard.

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  • An Examination for Directors

    A few weeks ago, we carried a post by Pramod Rao discussing the implications of recent changes to Clause 49 of the listing agreement, the key ones being strengthening the role of the independent directors on boards of Indian listed companies. Although relegated only to a non-mandatory provision, one of the changes states that a

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  • Micro..hoo: A New Twist

    This new development on the international M&A front is worth briefly noting on this blog. We had all expected to see a highly-contested battle for control of Yahoo! panning out over the next few months. A hostile bid by Microsoft was keenly on the cards. But, it all ended last weekend turning out to be

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  • Corporate Governance & Enforcement

    The corporate governance norms prescribed by SEBI were tightened earlier this month (as discussed here), whereby the requirement of independence of directors has been made more stringent. However, it is disheartening to note that while there is a move by the regulator to enhance mandatory norms on corporate governance at a substantive level, there is

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  • Disclosure Norms for Law Firms

    So far, public listings of securities by law firms has not caught on despite the first law firm (Australia’s Slater & Gordon) listing about a year ago. The legal practice regulations in most jurisdictions do not permit law firms to either take a corporate form or to issue its securities to the public. But, if

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  • Fairness Opinions: Art or Science?

    It has been said that valuation of a company is more of an art than a science. This has manifested again in the Bear Stearns transaction that is currently hogging limelight among legal circles. In this case, Lazard issued a fairness opinion when JP Morgan’s transaction with Bear Stearns was first announced that a stock

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  • Bear Stearns: Some Legal Complications

    JP Morgan Chase yesterday increased its bid for Bear Stearns to $10 per share from its previous bid of $2, fearing a refusal by shareholders to approve its takeover of the beleaguered broking entity. Several large shareholders of Bear Stearns had expressed disappointment at the initial offer price put out by JP Morgan Chase. As

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  • Pitfalls in Emerging Market Investments

    A recent unsuccessful bid by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Temasek to take a 24% stake in China Eastern Airlines is symptomatic of several pitfalls that exist in large investments in emerging markets. Knowledge@Wharton carries an interesting analysis of that case, a synopsis of which is as follows: “It was a perfect deal and it had

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  • Buyouts & Law Firms

    Thus far, I could only imagine law firms being involved in private equity funding and buyouts as legal advisors on deals. But, now it appears that we may begin to witness private equity funding and buyouts OF law firms. For details: Law.com and TimesOnline.

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